Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-01-27

In its effort to cater to an unreason-
able sentiment, the Iroquois Herald
says:
The Sioux Falls Press OF Saturday
makes bold defence for railroad mon
opolies and fear that harsh legislation
may prevent some railroad from build
ing into Sioux Falls. Never fear Mr..
Press man about the railroad companies
not being able to take care of them
selves without any OF your sentimental
nonsense about preventing them build
ing through 'harsh legislation" The
country il producing vast quantities OF
freight and the roads will build Ii here
to getit. 1t is queer argument, for
fear of deprivinR Sioux Falls OF another
prospective line of railroad the farming
and producing class are to continue to
bear the burden of unjust dfscrimina-
ton. No, we want all this stopped, and
that is Why we want state laws that will
Esgu.ste these evils. II will never be done
under territorial rule.
The Sioux Falls Press is doubtless
guarding with jealous care the interests
of the community it represents and in
this it may favor encouragement to
every railroad disposed to pass into the
open doors of lis city. In this its ex-
ample might profitably be emnlated by
almost all the newspapers of Dakota.
Even Iroauois is not without its ex-
pectations and if in the course
of time 1t should transpIre that Iroquois
could have had an additional railroad
but for pernicious legislation the Herald
would not be the last in that community
to regret Its short sighted advocacy of
over stringent measures. The railroad
systelns of Dakota are far from being
complete. There is not Legislative dis
triot within our territory without its
wish and its hope for improved facilities
and the competition which comes with
the construction of rival railroad lines.
So il the motive of the Press is as
charged by the Herald it is motive
shared oy almost every community in
Dakota and motive. entirely excuaable
in the vide awake representative OF
every western town. Argument in oppo-
sition to an extreme course IN connection
with railroad Legislation is based upon
the existence of excellent laws on this
subject. The people are protected by
the statutes against monopolles and mo-
nopolies are encouraged to extend and
further develop the domain of the people.
1t IS true enough that the country is
producing vast quantities of freight
for outgoing trains, but 1t is producing
no more than can be handled by existing
lines. And its production will increase
only in proportion to the increase oi
developing extensions. 1t is fact to be
remembered that Dakota would now be
sending out pounds where tits send.
ing out tons of freight but for the rail-
road construction which went ahead ol
settlement and development. The time
when the site of Iroquois was an nm
occupied waste is not SO far back in the
psst that it cannot be easily recalled
And tne railroads came first and Iroquoii
afterwards. It is sale to say that there
would have been no Iroquois Herald bu'
Tor the creation OF the railroads against
which it now contends. The occupants
of old Dakota, who have seen their coun
try populated and made productive
solely through the fundamentally o.
railroads, feel that such enterprises
should receive all reasonable encourage
ment. They cannot favor policy o.
antagopism which has grown up with
out cause and in opposition to the bes
Interests Of our growing domain.